Enclosure in Ballytoohy More

Situated on SSW-facing slope overlooking the narrow but flat-bottomed valley that opens out to SE onto the boulder beach at Portly (‘Portlea’ on Ordnance Survey maps). Lassau Wood mantles the opposite slopes of the valley. Plentiful traces of cultivation ridges are visible in the vicinity and an old trackway, running NW from Portly passes within 14m of the monument on its upslope (northern) side. The enclosure consists of a small, roughly circular enclosure (NNW–SSE 11.6m, ENE–WSW 11.3m), in poor condition, which sits on a slight break of slope. It is defined by a broad but poorly defined earth and stone bank that is up to 0.9m high externally at S. This bank has been heavily degraded by later cultivation ridges. From E to SSE much of the bank has been removed, and a number of boulders, a well-defined cultivation ridge and a meandering plot boundary partially occupy its line. No trace of a fosse is visible, even on the upslope (northern) side, nor is there any indication of an entrance, although there are modern gaps in the bank at W, NNW and NE. The interior is mantled in bracken but also displays traces of a number of cultivation ridges running on a NNE–SSW axis. Although tentatively classified here as an enclosure, this monument could also, given its diameter, be read as the remains of a large house site. The above description is derived from: New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 5: Archaeology. Edited by Paul Gosling, Conleth Manning and John Waddell. (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 2007). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 29 November 2018